Characteristics of High-Performance Skating

Turning

1. Gliding Turns Summary:
   • Weight has to be on the outside skate to resist the centrifugal force taking the player out of the turn.
   • Inside knee is bent, outside knee is slightly bent.
   • High performance players can execute a "slowing turn" by placing pressure on inside skate (slowing or turning by using the outside edge of the inside skate).

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   Observation of High Performance Skaters shows:

   • The weight must be on the outside skate to maintain balance. Centrifugal force will "pull" the body away from the turn, therefore the outside skate maintains the centripetal force pulling the player into the turn.

     If weight is placed on inside skate, it will cause the player to slow or stop, which can be used only as a high performance maneuver when slowing or stopping.

     Young hockey players must be taught to maintain most of weight of the body on the outside leg, otherwise poor balance will cause the player to fall.

     High performance players can execute a "slowing turn" by placing pressure on inside skate (slowing or turning by using the outside edge of the inside skate). This execution is only performed when the player wants to slow down or slow and turn at the same time.
     
     

   • Inside knee stays bent and outside knee is almost straight. During a high speed turn centrifugal force will pull the player away from the turn. To counter this force, the player must "lean into the turn" as well as keep the outside knee relatively straight. If the outside knee is bent, centrifugal force will pull the player out of the turn and off balance.
     
     
   • Maintain "Ready Position" going into and coming out of turn.
   
   
2. X-Over Turns
   
   
   • Horizontal movements should be emphasized. Vertical movements (hopping around a corner) increase recovery time therefore slowing the player.
     
     
   • Outside leg moves in front, inside leg moves behind.
     
     
   • High speed x-over turns: legs must move in quick x-overs.
     
     
   • A study of NHL forwards showed that they executed more left turns than right turns (Bracko, 1995) (Table 2).
     
     
   • X-over turning is not sustained rather, it is interspersed with gliding (Bracko, 1995). Game performance skating may be enhanced with the use of drills that emulate the activities of a game, rather than continuous x-over turns.
   
   
   Starting / Acceleration | Striding | Upper Body Movement | Gliding | Maturity
   Turning | Stopping | Backward Stopping | Backward Skating